Washing machine system and parts therefor



R. D. BECK ETAL WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM AND' PARTS THEREFOR Filed Se t] 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTORS S V. m KR N g W w H A D W M m LY H 00 T. RR Y B Aug. 22, 1967 Rs cK Em 3,336,766

WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 9, '1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WASH-N- WEAR HSVM AHG NldS INMINU S' BSNIH HSVMEIHd TIM NldS

PORT

2'5 com Y T I INVENTORS A ROLAND D.- BECK -F\OY W. HOUSER BY THEIR ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 R o. BECK ETAL 3,336,766 WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 9, 1965 T 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-4 I l INVENTORS I24 :24 ROLAND D. BECK -.-T J ROY w. HOUSER 22,1967 R. 0., BECK ETAL 7 3,336,766

WASHING MACHINHSYSTEM AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 V INVENTORS v v ROLAND D. BECK Y ROY W. HOUSER R. D. BECK ETAL WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM AND FARTS THEREFOR Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9, 1965 FIG-8 INVENTORS D. BECK HOUSER RGLAND ROY W. BY

iiL.

THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,336,766 WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM AND PARTS THEREFOR Roland D. Beck, Burbank, and Roy W. Houser, Orange, Califi, assignors to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 486,066 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to an improved system for controlling the operation of a domestic washing machine or the like.

In particular, it is well known that various washing machines are provided with a single electrical motor which, when its output shaft is rotated in one direction, operates the agitator of the washing machine and, when its output shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, spins the washing compartment of the washing machine.

According to the teachings of this invention, improved pneumatic control means are provided for controlling the speed of the spinning washing compartment in relation to the magnitude of a pneumatic signal as well as the speed of operation of the agitator in relation to the magnitude of a pneumatic signal.

Inparticular, means are provided for interconnecting the output shaft of the motor to transmission means for spinning the washing compartment or operating the agitator. In addition, other means control the speed of the transmission means during the spinning operation or the agitation operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved washing machine system having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a system or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the improved control system of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operation of the system illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating the main program member of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view, partially in cross section illustrating the means for controlling the speed of the transmission means of the washing machine of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional View illustrating one of the operating positions of the vacuum regulator of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating part of the actuator means of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrate the actuator means in other operating positions thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a control system for a domestic washing machine or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide a control system for other devices as described.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURUE 1, the improved control system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an electrical motor 11 having an output shaft 12 which, when rotated in one direction, will, through suitable transmission means 127, operate the agitator 11B FIGURE 4, of the washing machine 10 and, when rotated in the opposite direction, will, through suitable transmission means 127, spin the washing compartment 11A, FIGURE 4, of the washing machine 10.

The motor 11 has a running winding 13 and a star-ting winding 14, the running winding 13 having one side 15 thereof interconnected to a contact 16 by a lead 17 and the other side 18 interconnected to power lead L by a lead 19. The starting winding 14 has one side 20 thereof interconnected to a contact 21 by a lead 22 and the other side 22 thereof interconnected to a contact 23 by a lead 24, the lead 24 having a capacitor 25' therein, as well as a centrifugal switch 25 which opens upon a predetermined speed of rotation of the output shaft 12.

A first electrical switch 26 is provided and has three switch blades 27, 28, and 29 interconnected together by means 30, the blade 27 being hinged at contact 23 to bridge the contact 23 with a contact 31, the switch blade 28 being hinged at the contact 21 and being adapted to bridge the contact 21 with a contact 32, and the switch blade 29 being hinged at a contact 33 and being adapted to bridge the contact 33 with a contact 34.

The means 30 of the electric switch 26 is interconnected to a pneumatic actuator 35, which, when receiving atmospheric conditions in the chamber thereof, holds the switch blades 27, 28, and 29, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, when the chamber of the actuator 35 is evacuated by being interconnected to a vacuum source or the like in a manner hereinafter described, the actuator 35 pulls the blade 27 to bridge the contact 23 withthe contact 32 and pulls the switch blades 28 and 29 so that the same bridge the contacts 21 and 33 with a contact 36 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The contact 31 is in the lead 17 previously described and the contact 32 is interconnected to the power lead L by a lead 37. The contact 33 is interconnected to the lead 17 by a lead 33'.

The contact 36 is interconnected to a contact 38 of another electrical switch 39 by a lead 40. The switch 39 includes a movable switch blade 41 hinged at a contact 42 and adapted to bridge the contacts 42 and 38, the contact 42 being interconnected to the power lead L by a lead 43.

The switch blade 41 is interconnected to a pneumatic actuator 44 which holds the switch blade 41 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to bridge the contacts 41 and 3-8 when the chamber of the actuator 44 is at atmospheric condition. However, when the chamber of the actuator 44 is evacuated by being interconnected to a vacuum pump or the like, the actuator 44 by an interconnecting means 45 will move the switch blade 41 out of contact with the contact 38 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Another electrical switch 46 is provided and includes a switch blade 47 adapted to bridge a contact 48 in the lead 43 with the contact 16. However, the switch blade 47 is interconnected by means 49 to a pneumatically operated actuator 50 so that when the actuator 50 has its chamber at atmospheric conditions, the actuator 50 holds the switch blade 47 in the open position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, when the chamber of the actuator 50 is evacuated, by being interconnected to a vacuum pump or the like, the actuator 50 pulls the switch blade 47 to bridge the contacts 48 and 16 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The power lead L is also interconnected to the contact 38 of the switch 39 by a lead 51, the lead 51 having a timer motor 52 disposed therein to cause movement of a main program member 53, FIGURE 3, over a reading head 54 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A vacuum pump 55 is provided and is placed across the power leads 43 and 51 by a lead 56, the vacuum pump 55 having the inlet side 57 thereof interconnected to the reading head 54 by a flexible conduit means 58 in a manner hereinafter described.

The reading head 54 has a reading surface 59 interrupted by a plurality of ports 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, and 71, with the ports 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, and 71 being disposed in vertical alignment while the port 62 is disposed in horizontal alignment with port 61 and the port 68 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the port 67.

The flexible conduit 58 leading from the inlet 57 of the vacuum pump 55 is interconnected to the port 66 of the reading head 54, as well as to a port 72 of a water level control device 73, the water level control device 73 also having two other ports 74 and 75. The device 73 has a valve means 76 for fluidly interconnecting the ports 72 and 74 together when the water level in the washing machine is below a predetermined level. However, when the water level in the washing machine 10 is above a predetermined level, the means 76 disconnects the port 72 from the port 74 and interconnects the port 75 to the port 74, the port 75 being interconnected to the atmosphere.

The port 74 of the water level control device 73 is interconnected to the port 63 of the reading head 54 by a flexible conduit means 77.

The program member 53 which moves over the reading surface 59 of the reading head 54 includes a flexible reading sheet 78 having a plurality of blister means 79 formed therein in a predetermined pattern to bridge various ports in the reading head 54 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, as those particular blister means 79 pass over the reading head 54. In addition, the reading sheet 78 has a plurality of aperture means 80 passing therethrough in a predetermined pattern to be aligned with various of the ports in reading head 54 to permit air to enter those aligned ports in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. The reading sheet 78 is interconnected to a rigid backing member 81 in any suitable manner and is spaced therefrom by a porous compressible material 82 whereby air is adapted to enter an aperture means 83 of the backing member 81 and be filtered by a material 82 as the same passes through an aperture means 80 of the reading sheet 78 into an aligned port in the reading head 74.

The program member 53 is adapted to move over the reading head 54 at a constant speed by the timer motor 52 previously described when the timer motor is enerfiized in the manner hereinafter set forth to produce the cycle of operation illustrated in FIGURE 2.

A second reading head 84 is provided and has the -reading surface 85 thereof interrupted by a plurality of vertically aligned ports 86, 87, 88, and 89. A program member 90 is adapted to selectively move over the reading surface 85 of the reading head 84 and has blister means 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 formed therein in the same manner as the blister means 79 previously described to bridge certain of the ports in the reading head 84 when an indicator 96 of the program member 90 is disposed in a particular position WH, WW, WC, and CC, as illustrated in FIGURE 1 to select a water temperature of the water being directed into the washing machine by a water mixing valve 97.

The water mixing valve 97 has a hot water inlet 98 interconnected to a penumatic actuator 99 by means 100 whereby the actuator 99 is at atmospheric conditions the actuator 99 closes the hot water inlet 98. However, when the chamber of the actuator 99 is evacuated, the same opens the inlet 98 to direct water through the water mixing valve 97 to the outlet 101 thereof. Similarly, the water mixing valve 97 has a cold water inlet 102 controlled by a pneumatic actuator 103 interconnected thereto by means 104. Thus, when the actuator 103 is at atmospheric conditions, the same holds the cold water inlet 102 in its closed position, but when the chamber of the actuator 103 is evacuated, the same opens the cold water inlet 102.

The port 86 of the reading head 84, and the port 60 of the reading head 54 are interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 103 by flexible conduit means 105. The port 88 of the reading head 84 is interconnected to the chamber of the hot water actuator 99 by flexible conduit means 106. The port 61 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the port 87 of the reading head 84 by a flexible conduit 107. The port 62 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the port 89 of the reading head 84 by a flexible conduit 108.

The port 64 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 44 by a flexible conduit means 109. Similarly, the port 65 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 35 by a flexible conduit means 110. The port 67 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 50 by a flexible conduit means 111.

The port 68 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber of an actuator 112 by a flexible conduit means 113, the actuator 112 when actuated, opening a switch blade 114 in the line 43 to terminate the cycle of operation of the system 10. However, the switch blade 114 is adapted to be disposed in a closed position by suitable start means 115 to start the cycle of operation selected by the program member 53. I

The port 69 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber 116 of a vacuum regulator 117 by a flexible conduit 118, the vacuum regulator having the chamber 116 thereof also interconnected to the main vacuum line 58 by a vacuum line 118. The vacuum regulator 117 is controlled by a knob 119 whereby the magnitude of the vacuum in the chamber 116 can be automatically controlled so that the magnitude of vacuum imposed on line 118 will be in accordance with that selected by the knob 119, the vacuum regulator 117 selecting the speed of operation of the agitator of the washing machine 10.

The port 70 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to chamber means of a pneumatic actuator means 120 by flexible conduit means 121, the actuator means 120 controlling the speed of the transmission means for either the agitator or the washing compartment in relation to the magnitude of vacuum imposed in the chamber thereof.

The port 71 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber 122 of another vacuum regulator 123 by a flexible conduit means 124; the chamber 122 of the regulator 123 also being interconnected to the port 74 of the water level control device 73 by means of a flexible conduit means 124 leading to the port 63 of the reading head 54.

The vacuum regulator 123 has a control knob 125 which will select the magnitude of vacuum being imposed on the line 124' to be utilized for controlling the spin speed of the washing compartment of the washing machine 10.

As illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6, the actuator means 120 is carried by a frame means 126 of the washing machine 10 with the frame means 126 carrying the electrical motor 11 and transmission means 127.

The output shaft 12 of the electric motor 11 has a variable pitch pulley arrangement 128 and comprises a pair of .pulley sheaves 129 and 130. A continuous belt 131 is looped around the pulley arrangement 128 and also looped around a driven pulley 132 which drives the transmission means 127. A spring means 133 is provided and normally pulls outwardly on the belt 131 to tend to move the sheave 130 away from the fixed sheave 129 to its maximum separated position so that with the sheave 130 moved away from the fixed sheave 129 the maximum distance, the electric motor 11 drives the belt 131 at its lowest speed.

When the belt means 131 is driven in one direction by the motor 11, the driven pulley 132 drives the transmission means 127 in such a manner that the same operates the agitator of the washing machine 10. However, when the belt means 131 is driven in the opposite direction by the motor 11, the driven pulley 132 drives the transmission means 131 in such a manner that the same spins the washing compartment of the washing machine 10.

A lever 134 is provided and has one end 135 pivotally mounted to the frame means 126 and the other end 136 interconnected to the speed control actuator means 120, the lever 134 being so constructed and arranged that the intermediate part thereof is interconnected to the movable pulley 130.

In this manner, when the speed control actuator means 120 pulls upwardly on the end 136 of the lever 134 in the manner hereinafter described, the lever 134 moves the pulley sheave 130 toward the pulley sheave 129 to tend to cause the belt means 131 to move toward the outer periphery of the pulley means 128 so that the motor means 11 drives the belt 131 a a faster rate than before. Therefore, it can be seen that depending upon the position of the end 136 of the lever 134 relative to the frame means 126, the speed of the operation of the transmission means 127 can be varied so that the speed of operation of the agitator can be varied and the speed of spin of the washing compartment can be varied.

The speed control actuator means 120 is adapted to position the end 136 of the lever 134 at a selected position relative to the frame means 126 at a particular position to provide a particular speed of operation of the agitator of the washing machine depending upon the manual selection of the setting for the vacuum regulator 117. Similarly, the speed control actuator means 120 is adapted to position the end 136 of the lever 134 at a selected position relative to the frame means 126 to provide a selected speed for the spin means operation of the spinning compartment of the washing machine 10 in relation to the manual setting of the vacuum regulator 123.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the speed control actuator means 120 comprises a single unit composed of two actuator means 137 and 138 interconnected together. The first actuator 137 comprises a cup-shaped housing part 139A operatively interconnected to a flexible diaphragm 140 to define a chamber 141 therebetween.

The second actuator 138 comprises a housing part 139B operatively interconnected to the housing part 139A and to a flexible diaphragm 142 to define a chamber 143 between the housing part 139B and the flexible diaphragm As previously set forth, the speed control actuator means 120 is controlled by the magnitude of the vacuum signal'being directed thereto through line 121, the degree of magnitude of the pneumatic signal in line 121 being controlled by either the vacuum regulator 117 or the vacuum regulator 123.

Since the vacuum regulators 117 and 123 are identical in structure, only the regulator 123 is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5 will now be described, it being understood that such details also apply to the regulator 117.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the regulator 123 includes a pair of housing means 144 and 145 suitably secured together and sandwiching an outer periphery 146 of a flexible diaphragm 147 therebetween, the diaphragm 147 dividing the housing means 144, 145 into two chambers 122 and 148. The chamber 148 is interconnected to the atmosphere by an aperture means 149 passing through the housing means 144.

The flexible conduit 124' which leads to the port 71 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a port 150 of the housing means 145, the port 150 being interconnected to the chamber 122 thereof.

The passage means 124 leading to the port 63 of the reading head 54 as well as to the port 74 of the water level control device 73 is interconnected to a tubular member 151 projecting into the chamber 122, the tubular member 151 having an open end 152 adapted to be opened and closed by the diaphragm 147. I

The diaphragm 147 has an aperture 153 passing there through and being oflf center relative to the end 152 of the tube 151.

A vent hole covering member 154 is provided and is normally urged against the diaphragm 147 by a compression spring 155, the cover member 154 having an aperture 156 passing therethrough and loosely receiving the tube 151.

The control knob 125 has a threaded portion 157 threaded in a threaded opening 158 of the housing means 144, the end 159 of the threaded portion 157 bearing against a plate 160. A compression spring 161 is disposed between the plate 160 and the diaphragm 147 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The control knob 125 is adapted to be rotated relative to the housing 144 to select the desired magnitude of vacuum in the chamber 122 and, thus, being directed by conduit means 124 to the speed control actuator means in a manner hereinafter set forth.

In particular, when the knob is set at a el t speed, and the vacuum source is interconnected to the conduit 124 in a manner hereinafter described, the force of the compression spring is greater than the force of the compression spring 161 and moves the cover member 154 and diaphragm 147 upwardly to uncover the end 152 of the tube 151, the cover member 154 completely closing the aperture 153 in the diaphragm 147. As the degree of vacuum in the chamber 122 builds up, the vacuum in the chamber 122 tends to pull the diaphragm 147 downwardly and when the magnitude of vacuum in the chamber 122 equals that set by the control knob 125, the degree of vacuum in the chamber 122 and the force of the compression spring 161 acting in opposition to the force of the compression spring 155 causes the diaphragm 147 to close 011 the end 152 of the tube 151 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. Should the degree of the vacuum in the chamber 122 be greater than that set by the control knob 125, the increased degree of vacuum in the chamber 122 further pulls the diaphragm 147 downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4A whereby the cover member 154 is also moved downwardly to uncover the port or aperture 153 in the diaphragm 147 to permit atmosphere from the chamber 148 to pass into the chamber 122 and reduce the degree of vacuum therein until the same is at the selected degree whereby the regulator 123 will then assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Thus, it can be seen that the regulator 123, as well as the regulator 117, is adapted to maintain a selected magnitude of vacuumin the chamber thereof in the above manner to impose that vacuum on the speed control actuator means 120 for a purpose hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the housing part 139A of the speed control actuator means 120 has a nipple 162 interconnected to the flexible conduit 121 whereby a passage means 163 in the nipple 162 interconnects the controlled'vacuum in the line 121 to the chamber 141 of the first actuator 137.

The housing part 139A has a tubular portion 164 telescopically receiving a tubular member 165 having a cupshaped portion 166 engaged by the rolling flexible diaphragm 140, the tubular member 165 projecting through an aperture 167 in the flexible diaphragm 140 and pass 7 ing through a sealing sleeve 168 disposed in an aperture 169 in the housing part 139B to project into the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138.

A sealing member 170 seals the diaphragm 140 to the cup-shaped portion 166 of the tubular member 165 whereby the tubular member 165 moves in unison with the diaphragm 140 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The diaphragm 140 cooperates with the housing part 139B to define a chamber 171 therebetween which is vented to the atmosphere by a passage means 172 formed in the housing part 139B in order to prevent a dash pot effect to movement of the diaphragm 140 toward and away from the housing part 139B.

A compression spring 173 is disposed in the chamber 141 of the first actuator 137 and has one end 174 bearing against the housing part 139A and the other end 175 bearing against the member 165 to tend to maintain the member 165 in engagement with the flexible diaphragm 140 and to normally move the member 165 and diaphragm 140 to the dotted line position in FIGURE 6 when an atmospheric condition exists in the chamber 141.

The part 165 of the first actuator 137 has a groove 176 therein to interconnect the chamber 141 of the first actuator 137 to the interior chamber 177 defined in the tubular portion 164 of the housing part 139A whereby the passage means 178 passing through the member 165, in effect, interconnects the chamber 141 of the first actuator 137 to the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138 at the end 179 of the part of the member 165.

A rigid member 180 is disposed in the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138 and is interconnected to the flexible diaphragm 142 by an outside retainer 181. Downward movement of the flexible diaphragm 142 is limited by another retainer 182 carried by the housing part 139B.

The end 136 of the lever 134 is operatively interconnected to the flexible diaphragm 142 by means of a link 183 having one end 184 interconnected to the member 180 and the other end 185 pivotally connected to the end 136 of the lever 134 by a pivot pin 186.

The part 180 of the second actuator 138 has an opening 187 passing therethrough and of a size to telescopically receive the end 179 of the member 165 for a purpose hereinafter described. The flexible diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 has a thick annular portion 188 larger in diameter than the opening 187 and is provided with a plurality of aperture means 189 passing therethrough. However, the aperture means 189 are normally closed by the part 180 because of the natural resiliency of the flexible diaphragm 142 and the retainer 181 tending to hold the thickened part 188 into sealing engagement with the member 180 whereby when the actuator means 120 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 6, the thick part 188 of the flexible diaphragm 142 completely closes the opening 187 in the part 180 and the part 180 completely closes the aperture means 189 in the diaphragm 142, whereby the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138 is sealed from the atmosphere.

When a vacuum signal of a magnitude selected by the vacuum regulator 117 or 123 is interconnected to the conduit means 121, the chamber 141 has the air therein evacuated to the selected degree whereby the flexible diaphragm 140 thereof is moved upwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 and carries the member 165 therewith in opposition to the force of the compression spring 173. Since the chamber 141 of the first actuator 137 is also interconnected to the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138, the air in the chamber 143 is subsequently evacuated to cause the diaphragm 142 to move upwardly carrying the part 180 therewith and, thus, the end 136 of the lever 134 to decrease the distance between the movable sheave 130 and the fixed sheave 129 of the pulley arrangement 128 to correspondingly increase the speed of rotation of the driven pulley 132.

Therefore, it can be seen that since the groove means 176 in the part 165 and the passage means 178 in the member. 165 of the first actuator 137 provides a restriction to the flow of air out of the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138, the first actuator 137 has its flexible diaphragm moved a predetermined position as determined by the particular regulator 117 or 123 and, thereafter, causes a delayed movement of the diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 to a predetermined position to set the speed of the variable transmission means 127 to provide the selected speed of agitation of spin depending upon the particular cycle of operation of the washing machine 10 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

This delayed movement of the flexible diaphragm of the actuator 138 in relation to the movement of the flexible diaphragm 140 of the actuator 137 permits a gradual and smooth increase in the speed of the transmission means 127 even though the actuation and setting of the actuator 137 is relatively fast by the program member 53.

The chamber 143 of the second actuator 138 is continuously evacuated by the vacuum source 55 until the flexible diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 has the thick part 188 thereof disposed against the end 179 of the member of the first actuator 137 to prevent further evacuation of the chamber 143 and, thus, to position the flexible diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 in its selected position.

Should the degree of evacuation of the chamber 143 of the second actuator 138 be greater than that determined by the position of the end 179 of the member 165 of the first actuator 137, the flexible diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 will be pulled further upwardly. However, since the end 179 of the member 165 is held in the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 by the compression spring 173 opposing the degree of evacuation in the chamber 141, the end 179 of the member 165 causes downward flexing of the thick part 188 of the flexible diaphragm 142 of the second actuator 138 to move the same away from the part and open the aperture means 189 thereof so that air can seep into the chamber 143 to reduce the degree of vacuum therein whereby the force of the spring means 133 tending to separate the sheaves 129 and 130 will also tend to pivot the lever 134 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 4 to move the flexible diaphragm 142 downwardly back to the selected position as illustrated in FIGURE 7.

However, if the diaphragm 142 should be pulled further downwardly from the position illustrated in FIG- URE 7 because the degree of vacuum in the chamber 133 is less than that selected by the regulator 117 or 123, the end 179 of the member 165 is now uncovered, whereby the vacuum source 55 can further evacuate the chamher 143 in the manner previously described so that the speed control regulator 120 will tend to maintain the flexible diaphragm 142 in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 7 for the particular setting of the regulator 117 or 123. In this manner, the position of the movable sheave 130 relative to the fixed sheave 129 of the variable pitch pulley arrangement 128 will be set at a selected spacing to drive the transmission means 127 at the selected speed.

Another speed control actuator means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 190 and parts thereof similar to the actuator means 120 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the actuator means 190 includes the two actuators 137C and 138C formed in the same manner as the actuator 120. However, the retainer 181C has a cup-shaped portion 191 disposed below the thick portion 188C of the flexible diaphragm 142C to permit a compression spring 192 to have one end 193 bear against the retainer portion 191 and the other end 194 bear against the thick part 188C of the diaphragm 142C to maintain the same in sealing engagement with the part 1800 adjacent the opening 187C therein.

9 A weight means 195 is carried on a stem 196 which projects through an opening 197 in the retainer part 191 and is interconnected to the thick part 188C of the flexible diaphragm 142C.

In this manner, should the washing machine 10 be operating and an unbalanced condition exists in the spinningwashing compartment during a high speed spin operation thereof, the frame means 126 carrying the speed control actuator means 190 will correspondingly vibrate and cause the weight 195 to vibrate in unison therewith. If the vibration of the weight means 195 is great enough, the same will cause flexing of the part 188C of the flexible diaphragm 142C and, thereby, uncover the aperture means 189C therein to permit air to enter the chamber 143C so that the flexible diaphragm 142C will move downwardly and, thus, reduce the speed of the transmission 127 in the above manner.

In the manner, the speed control means 190 compensates for any unbalanced condition in the spinning-washing compartment to reduce the speed of spin thereof so that damage cannot occur to the washing machine 10.

The operation of the system 10 will now be described.

Assuming that the operator desires to do a regular fabrics wash cycle, as illustrated between the 1) minute increment and 34 minute increment of movement of the program member 53 as illustrated in FIGURE 2, with a hot wash water temperature and a warm rinse water temperature, the operator moves the program number 90 so that the indicator 96 thereof points to position HW whereby the blister 91 thereof bridges the ports 87 and 88 for a purpose hereinafter described. Also, the operator selects the desired agitator speed by the knob 119 and the desired spin speed by the knob 125. With the program member 53 disposed in the position thereof, the operator pulls out on the lever 115 to close the switch blade 114 whereby the vacuum pump 55 and timer motor 52 are placed across the power leads L and L because the switches 26, 39 and 46 are disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, whereby the program member 59 begins to move relative to the reading head 54 under the influence of the timer motor 52. At the 0 increment of movement of the program member 53, it can be seen that a wide blister 79A, FIGURE 2, will simultaneously bridge the ports 61, 62, 63 and 64 of the reading head 59 and, since the water level in the washing machine is below the predetermined level, the control device 73 interconnects the vacuum line 58 with the port 74 so that vacuum is at the port 63. With vacuum at the port 63, vacuum is fed from port 61 through line 107 to port 87 of the reading head 84 and is interconnected' to the port 88 by the blister 91, so that the hot water actuator 99 is evacuated to open the hot water inlet 98 to direct hot water through the outlet 101 of the mixing valve 97 into the washing machine.

Since the blister 79A also bridges the ports 63 and 64 of the reading head 54, vacuum is imposed on the actuator 44 of the switch 39 to open the switch blade 41 so that current cannot flow from L to the contact 36 of the switch 26.

Also, at the 0 increment of movement of the pro gram member 53, it can be seen that a plurality of vertically aligned blisters 79B serially bridge the ports 65 and 66 whereby the vacuum at the port 66 is interconnected to the port 65 and, thus, to the chamber of the actuator 35 through the line 110 whereby the switch blades 27, 28 and 29 are pulled downwardly in the manner previously described, so that the switch blade 27 bridges the contacts 23 and 32 and the switch blades 28 and 29 interconnect the contact 36 with the contacts 33 and 21.

As long as the switch blade 41 is opened by the actuated actuator 44, no current can run through the starting winding 14 of the motor 11, so that the motor 11 is inoperative dun-ing the water filling operation until the water level has reached a predetermined level in the washing machine 10.

In particular, when the Water level in the washing machine 10 reaches a predetermined level, the member 76 of the water level control device 73 disconnects the vacuum port 72 from the port 74 and interconnects the atmosphere port 75 with the port 74 whereby atmosphere is now interconnected to the port 63 of the reading head 54. Since atmosphere is at the port 63 of the reading head 54, the blister means 79A interconnects that atmosphere to the ports 61 and 64 so that the actuators 99 and 44 are interconnected to atmosphere. Since the actuator 99 is now interconnected to the atmosphere, the same closed the hot water inlet 98 so that no more water is fed into the washing machine by the mixing valve 97.

Similarly, the deactivated actuator 44 causes the switch blade 41 thereof to bridge the contacts 42 and 38 so that current from power line L will flow through line 40, contact 36, switch blade 28, contact 21 and line 22 through the starting winding 14 of the motor 11, contact 23, switch blade 27, contact 32 and line 37 to power lead L to cause the output shaft 12 of the motor 11 to operate in the proper direction for operating the agitator of the washing machine 10.

After the motor 11 has been started by current flowing through the winding 14 thereof, the current flowing through the winding 13 continues to operate the motor 11 even though the centrifugal switch 25 is subsequently opened by the speed of rotation of the output shaft 12. In particular, current flows from power lead L through line 40, contact 36, switch blade 29, contact 33, line 33', and line 17 through the winding 13 to the line 29 leading to the power lead L It can be seen that the motor 11 is now operated in a manner to cause movement of the agitator of the washing machine 10 from the time the water level in the washing machine 10 has reached the predetermined level determined by the water level control 73 until the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53.

Also, it should be noted that a series of vertical blisters 79C bridge the ports 69 and 70 to interconnect the controlled vacuum in the line 118 with the speed control actuator means 120 to cause the transmission means being driven by the motor 11 to operate the agitator at the speed selected by the knob 119.

In particular, since the control knob 119 of the vacuum regulator 117 has been set at a selected speed of operation of the agitator, and, should that speed be greater than the minimum speed provided by the transmission means 127, the degree of vacuum in the chamber 116 of the regulator 117 is imposed on the actuator means 120 to increase the pitch of the pulley arrangement 128 so that the motor 11 will drive the belt 131 at a faster speed than when the same is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 6.

At the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53 relative to the reading head 54, it can be seen in FIGURE 2 that a suitable aperture of the reading sheet 59 comes into alignment with the port 65 of the reading head 54 to permit atmosphere to return to the chamber of the actuator 35 to move the switch blades 27, 28 and 29 back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to turn oh. the motor 11 and terminate the operation of the agitator.

Also, at the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53 relative to the reading head 54, a series of vertical blisters 79D bridge the ports 66 and 67 to interconnect the vacuum pump 55 to the chamber of the actuator 50 so that the same pulls the switch blade 47 to close the contacts 48 and 16 to operate the motor 11 in a manner to spin the washing compartment of the washing machine.

In particular, current now flows from lead L to line 43, contact 48, switch blade 47, contact 16, line 17, contact 31, Switch blade 27, contact 23, line 24, capacitor 25', centrifugal switch 25 and starting winding 14, lead 22, contact 21, switch blade 28, contact 32 and line 37 to power lead L to cause the starting winding 14 to operate the shaft 12 in the opposite direction to drive the transmission means which spins the washing compartment, the starting winding 14 having the current therethrough terminated when the centrifugal switch 25 opens due to the speed of rotation of the output shaft 12. However, current now fiows through the running winding 13 of the motor 11 by means of lead 17 from power lead L to lead 19 leading to power lead L whereby the motor 11 spins the washing compartment as long as the actuator 50 is evacuated.

Simultaneously, it can be seen that other blisters 79E of the program member 53 are bridging the ports 70 and 71 to interconnect the controlled vacuum in line 124 to the speed actuator means 120 to cause the transmission means for the spinning operation to spin the washing compartment at the speed selected by the control knob 125, vacuum being directed to the chamber 122 when the water level control device 73 is in the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 caused by the water in the washing machine being pumped out below the predetermined level by a pump driven by the motor 11 when the output shaft 12 thereof rotates in the direction to spin the washing compartment.

T h-us, it'can be seen that the spin speed regulator means 120 will not increase the speed of spin of the washing compartment above the minimum speed thereof until after the water level in the washing compartment has fallen below the predetermined level set by the water level control device 73. In this manner, undue forces are not placed on the motor 11 to spin the washing compartment at a relatively high speed when a high water level is in the washing machine.

However, once the water level in the washing machine has fallen below the predetermined level, the member 76 of the water level control device 73 interconnects the port 72 with the port 74 whereby the inlet 57 of the vacuum pump 55 is now interconnected to the port 63 of the reading head 54 and, thus, to the line 124 leading to the chamber 122 of the vacuum regulator 123. In this manner, the regulator 123 now controls the magnitude of vacuum being imposed on the speed control actuator means 120 to set the desired speed of operation of the transmissionmeans 127 during the spinning operation in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the washing machine is controlled by the program member 53 in such a manner that the same will provide a cycle of operation as illustrated in FIG. 2 in the above manner, with the actuators 35, 50 and 44 controlling the motor 11 in such a manner that the motor 11 will not operate the agitator of the washing machine until the water level in the machine has reached a predetermined level. Further, the control system of this invention will cause the motor 11 to have the output shaft 12 thereof driven in the proper direction to spin the washing compartment.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved control system for a washing machine or the like, as well as improved parts for such a control system or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing apparatus having a movable part for treating laundry and the like, the improvement comprising variable speed means for moving said part, and means varying the speed of said variable speed means, said lastnamed means including a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator operating said second actuator in response to actuation of said first actuator, said second actuator setting the speed of caid variable speed means in response to the degree of actuation of said second actuator caused by said first actuator.

2. In a washing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said actuators being pneumatically operated actuators, a pneumatic source, and means interconnecting said source to said actuators.

3. In a. washing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, a regulator disposed between said source and said actuators to selectively control the degree of pneumatic signal directed to said actuators.

4. In a washing apparatus having a washing compartment and an agitator, the improvement comprising variable speed means for spinning said washing compartment and for operating said agitator, and means for varying the speed of said variable speed means, said last-named means including a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator operating said second actuator in response to actuation of said first actuator, said second actuator setting the speed of caid variable speed means in response to the degree of actuation of said second actuator caused by said first actuator.

5. In a washing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said first and second actuators are combined into a single selfcontained unit.

6. In a washing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, first means are provided for selecting the degree of actuation of said first actuator for a spinning operation and wherein second means are provided for selecting the degree of actuation of said first actuator for an agitator operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,960,856 11/1960 Bauerlein et a1 6812 2,963,892 12/1960 Edwards 6824 X 3,014,591 12/1961 Stone et al 68-24 X 3,152,461 10/1964 Glover 6824 3,256,692 6/1966 Rice et al. 68-12X WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WASHING APPARATUS HAVING A MOVABLE PART FOR TREATING LAUNDRY AND THE LIKE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING VARIABLES SPEED MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PART, AND MEANS VARYING THE SPEED OF SAID VARIABLE SPEED MEANS, SAID LASTNAMED MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST ACTUATOR AND A SECOND ACTUATOR, SAID FIRST ACTUATOR OPERATING SAID SECOND ACTUATOR IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST ACTUATOR, SAID SECOND ACTUATOR SETTING THE SPEED OF CAID VARIABLE SPEED MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE DEGREE OF ACTUATION OF SAID SECOND ACTUATOR CAUSED BY SAID FIRST ACTUATOR. 